How to Prepare Your Home for Professional House Painters
Planning for house painting is an exciting time. You’ve been thinking about what colors and finishes you want for each room. You’re looking forward to old and damaged paint being removed, and fresh paint being applied. You’ve hired an expert team of professional house painters that can tackle any project.
You’re almost ready. But there are likely a few things you can do to more fully prepare for home interior painting in a way that protects your surrounding surfaces, as well as the items in each room most important to you and your family. Here are some steps your painting team may recommend.
1. Room Cleaning
Giving every room you plan to paint a deep clean before painters arrive is more than a courtesy. Removing as much dust and dirt from the room means it is less likely to be moved about as painters do their work. Anything you can do to reduce the amount of dirt and dust means it will be less likely to be kicked up during the painting project, and therefore less likely to stick to your newly primed and painted surfaces.
2. Decluttering / Improving Access
The less crowded and obstructed the room is before painting, the less likely any paint will drip on anything important. Removing obstructions from rooms you plan to paint also ensures painting and surface prep teams can move freely, and have plenty of space to lay drop cloths, set out paints and brushes, and set up ladders and other painting equipment as needed to paint hard-to-reach areas.
3. Remove Wall Hangings and Decorations
Removing anything on your walls is a helpful way to get the room ready for interior painting services. Take down any wall decor, clocks, photos, artwork, and decorative fixtures and put them in a safe place outside the area you plan to paint. There’s no need to worry about nail holes or marks on the wall left behind after these things are removed. Thorough surface preparation will ensure that your walls are cleaned, and your drywall is patched, repaired, and smoothed, before any paint or primer is applied.
4. Move Furniture Away from the Wall
Furniture is too valuable to leave in the path of paint. Move furniture away from the wall prior to painters’ arrival at your property. If possible, it should be completely removed from the room. Small items may be able to be moved to the center of the room, depending on the preferences and needs of your painting team.
5. Remove Rugs, Curtains, and Throws
Take down curtains and remove window treatments before your painting project begins. Your painting crews may need to touch up windows and trim, and getting drapes and window treatments out of the way makes that a lot easier. Similarly, you’ll want to remove anything you normally have covering/decorating your floor, or draped over furniture, to get it out of the way of dust, drop clothes, and dried or fresh paint.
6. Plan to Vacate the Room
It’s smart to plan ahead once you know which rooms will be painted on what day. If you’re getting cabinets painted, it may be helpful to plan to have meals somewhere other than your kitchen while the project is underway. If bedrooms are being painted, it may be best to stay with a friend or family member, or get a hotel for the night. It may also be easiest to board pets while rooms are being painted. Much of this will depend on the specific details of your painting project. Since painting projects are typically scheduled several weeks in advance, your painting team will be able to give you plenty of notice regarding adjustments you may want to make to your routine.
7. Be on the Lookout for Damage
If you’ve noticed any significant trim or wall damage, or if you suspect moisture damage has caused wood rot in your home, be sure to let your painting contractor know, so they can recommend and plan for additional surface repair and preparation.
8. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
All questions are great questions when it comes to getting ready for house painters. Asking your preferred residential painting contractor about any steps you need to take prior to their arrival is a smart way to ensure the experience is smooth, streamlined, and stress-free for everyone. Ask what you need to remove, store, and clean beforehand, as well as any other specific steps you’ll need to take to be prepared for a successful interior painting project.
9. Let the Experts Take Care of the Rest
There will be some steps you’ll need to take before getting your rooms painted. However, when you choose TRICO PAINTING as your interior painting contractor, we will take many steps before we begin painting, so every project gives you greater peace of mind as you look forward to your newly refreshed and repainted rooms. Our team will:
- Conduct a site visit so we know the size and unique demands of every area we plan to paint
- Recommend and complete any necessary surface repairs, including wood rot repair and replacement
- Cover all areas we paint with drop cloths and other protective coverings
- Remove all damaged paint and old paint and primers from the surface.
- Patch and repair drywall
- Sand and smooth any surfaces we plan to paint
- Apply professional-grade primers and paints to get the exact results you envision
We suggest contacting us 4-6 weeks before you’d like painting completed, to allow ample time for scheduling and preparation for you and your family.
We welcome any questions along the way, and we’ll make every effort to give you the details you need to know to prepare your house for painting crews’ arrival.
When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to talk about your project. Contact TRICO PAINTING today for your interior painting estimate!